Women should be given more authority, power over their life decisions
KARACHI: As countries fluctuate between enforcing and easing lockdowns, it has been speculated that the rate of violence will increase in the coming months. According to a UN health agency, 31 million additional cases of gender-based violence may occur if lockdowns continue for a further six months.
In Pakistan, while provincial governments are working tirelessly to protect the citizens from Covid-19, the issue of domestic violence has been highly overlooked. Civil organisations in the country claim that the cause of such societal evil is rooted in the idea of unequal power relations. The predominant power structure in Pakistan is that of patriarchy, which means that the male figure is in control of all affairs, public and private, thus assuming a dominant position. This psychological egotism coupled with a plethora of other problems leads to a frustration that overtime develops into rage; which is eventually unleashed on the female counterpart through violence.
During lockdowns, women in abusive relationships remain helpless because their abusers are now at home more frequently. In such a situation, a Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa NGO, the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Alliance (EVAWG), has called upon the government and disaster management authorities to introduce a support helpline for domestic abuse victims in the Covid-19 response plan. The relevant authorities should heed their call and create a proper team whereby such incidents can be sought out and stopped. The abuser should be tried in court and punished if found guilty. In order to eradicate the problem, there is need to bring about a change in the mindset of the people. Women should be given more authority and power over their life decisions so that they can carve out a future for themselves.
Rehma Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2020.
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